S-Pulse 3-2 Zweigen Kanazawa (Emp Cup 3rd Rnd)

BARRY WRITES... 

S-Pulse 3-2 Zweigen Kanazawa
Omae 45+1 --------------- Awatari 20
Takagi 90, 95 ------------- Sato 91 

Att. 4609
Nihondaira Stadium, KO 3pm
Shizuoka city, Shizuoka prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Jong-a-Pin
DF Hiraoka
DF Ishige
DF Kawai

MF Hattanda
MF Sugiyama (77)
MF Muramatsu
MF Takeuchi

FW Radončić
FW Omae

Subs used

Honda on for Muramatsu (61)
Takagi on for Hattanda (61)

Report

A classic cup tie. Classic in the sense that the underdogs came our roaring (if dogs roared) and the J1 hosts were put in their place as a result. Not even 5000 in Nihondaira against JFL opposition, you can see how we may have had trouble getting ourselves up for this one. Kanazawa on the contrary were all set for a rare game in a top flight stadium and more than motivated. Their early pressure soon paid off with a tidy strike from a corner, and only then did we seem to wake up.

Chances were coming, and when on the back foot Kanazawa were making all kinds of errors, but it was all just a bit too sloppy. The first half stoppage time equaliser was certainly warranted, coming moments after Genki had hit the post. 1-1 was fair at the break, but for all our possession in the second 45, at no point did Kanazawa look out of it. The introduction of Honda and Takagi had a big impact, and that's one of the major differences in J1 and JFL. The big guns will have quality waiting to come on from the bench.

Honda made an impact straight away making a double challenge to prevent a very real goal scoring opportunity for Kanazawa. Up the other end Takagi was doing what he does best, running at defenders, unsettling the opposition and crafting chances. It was in the last minute that he made enough space to rattle off a shot from the edge of the box, and at 2-1 with just stoppage time left to play, the game was won.

Except it wasn't. Not by a long way. Straight up the other end, and the unthinkable happened, an equaliser in the 91st minute for the visitors. The giant flags were out, blocking mine and other's views, so I'm yet to see it properly. Needless to say we weren't happy, but what can you do, but keep cheering the boys on. That we did for the next four minutes, certain that we were headed for extra time. Cue Takagi once more. With the very last action, and the very last kick, he swept it home from the right hand side of the area into the far side netting. Few can place it home from that angle better than him.

Not classic S-Pulse by any means, but a classic cup tie. We were making full use of our squad, rotating to rest legs, and giving Ishige more experience outside his usual position. Glad we avoided extra time, and the game gave those who went something to remember. So with that we're into the hat for the 4th round. To be drawn on Sunday, I believe.

Pictures

 Kanazawa only have yellow or red kits, both deemed to clash with our orange

 Travelling support

Hideki Ishige

Full time

Videos

Taken from the TV with a camera, and don't show anything of the build ups to the goals, but better than nothing. Looks like a lot of fun behind the away goal when they equalised.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1 Shimizu S-Pulse

BARRY WRITES... 

Hiroshima 3-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Shiotani 76 ------------/---------- Omae 71
Notsuda 79, 88

Att. 15512
Hiroshima Big Arch, KO 4pm
Hiroshima city, Hiroshima prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Hiroka
DF Jong-a-Pin
DF Sugiyama

MF Muramatsu
MF Honda (22)
MF Ishige
MF Kawai

FW Omae (33)
FW Takagi
FW Radončić (20)

Subs Used

Murata on for Honda (56)
Takeuchi on for Takagi (90)
Ito on for Hiraoka (90)

Report

And that is why Hiroshima won the league and look like defending their crown. The first half was very even and we largely matched the champions, but after the break, or more correctly, after we took the lead, the home team had us making mistakes and eventually their pressure paid off. Their first two goals were belters, but we should have done better to prevent them. Their third hit us as we pushed for an equaliser. Really disappointing after the first three quarters, but I can't have too many complaints about this result.

Positives to take is that, yeah, me matched the defending champions away from home for most the game. Radon went close several times, and generally we created chances. If I'm not mistaken Radončić and Honda both picked up 4th yellows in this game, so while they'll miss Sagan in a fortnight they'll be back for the derby.Tosu at home should be three points, and then the small business of the away derby. Long since sold out, it might, just might, be the game that relegates Iwata. That would be AMAZING.

Videos

Extended highlights.

S-Pulse 2-1 Ventforet Kofu

BARRY WRITES... 

S-Pulse 2-1 Ventforet Kofu
Omae 14, 57 ------------- Patrick 1

Att 15088
Nihondaira Stadium, KO 3pm
Shizuoka city, Shizuoka Prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Muramatsu (18)
DF Hiraoka
DF Jong-a-Pin

MF Kawai
MF Ishige
MF Sugiyama (22)
MF Honda (38)

FW Radončić
FW Omae
FW Takagi

Subs Used

Murata on for Takagi (69)
Yoshida on for Kawai (69)
Takeuchi on for (94)

Report

I'll get my moan out the way first. I was a bit under the weather this week, so watched this one from home on TV Shizuoka. Never again. Coverage starting 1 minute before kick off and ending 1 minute after the whistle you can let slide, but replays of nothing but the goals, advert breaks during the action twice per half, and the commentator screaming when the ball went anywhere vaguely near the goal (regardless of any real danger). It drove me mad.

The icing on the cake was when Kofu put the ball in the net after the whistle had gone for a foul. That small detail didn't stop the commentator reeling off the new scoreline and goal scorer at the top of his voice. Only when the co-commentator whispered to him did he stop. Even in you'd missed the whistle, that none of the Kofu players were celebrating must have been a clue? No, TV Shizuoka shouldn't be let anywhere near football coverage until they learn how to do it properly.

Make no mistake, this was a big result. Kofu, while in 15th, have only lost one from their last nine, pulling away, in terms of points at least, from the bottom three. In Patrick I can see one very big reason why they've been on such a good run. The man is immense. Not only in stature, but impact. It was his header in the 30th second which put the visitors in front, and that set out his stall. He was causing all kinds of problems, and when a pass back was a fraction too slow he was there to pounce. Kushibiki got there just in time, and while the deflection off the forward could have gone anywhere, we got the rub of the green on that occasion.

We got another bit of luck to draw level when Kofu's Sasaki made a total mess of a simple header to lay it off to Omae. Still with Sasaki and the keeper to deal with, Genki placed it home to get us back on terms. It was Genki again, who since regaining full fitness has been a revelation since his return. Coupled with Radončić, they've forged a wonderful understanding. Desperately unlucky not to have snatched an equaliser at the death last week, Radon was central to our winner. Just off the top of the penalty area he held it up, laid it off to Muramatsu who played it through to Genki. Omae did the rest.

Kofu will likely stay up as they were no push overs, but we saw out the game and move up to 11th. With four wins from our last five (and last week's defeat a bit harsh, perhaps) we are the form team We go to Hiroshima next week who are playing for the title, so it will be a massive test. A win would put us anywhere up to 8th, on the fringes of the prize money and a couple more wins away from an ACL spot! Over optimistic? Maybe, but I can't help it.

S-Pulse!

Videos

Highlights.

Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0 Shimizu S-Pulse

BARRY WRITES... 

Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Nakamura 4

Att 13416
KO 7pm, Mitsuzawa Nippatsu Stadium
Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Sugiyama
DF Muramatsu
DF Jong-a-Pin (64)

MF Kawai
MF Ishige
MF Honda
MF Takeuchi

FW Omae
FW Takagi
FW Radoncic (24)

Substitutes used

Murata on for Takeuchi (63)
Yoshida on for Takagi (78)
Ito on for Kawai (88)

Report

In due course!

Videos

Thanks, William!

S-Pulse 2-1 Nagoya

BARRY WRITES... 

S-Pulse 2-1 Nagoya Grampus
Radoncic 59 -------------- Masukawa 52
Omae 93

Att 13189

Kick off 3pm, Nihondaira Stadium
Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Hiraoka
DF Jong-a-Pin
DF Sugiyama
DF Mutamatsu

MF Ishige
MF Kawai
MF Honda
MF Takagi (24)

FW Radoncic (23)
FW Omae

Subs used

Murata on for Takagi (68)
Lee Ki-Ji on for Honda (74)
Takeuchi on for Hiraoka (79)

Report




God damn, right. It's a beautiful day.

First thoughts have to go to Hiraoka who went off late on with a dislocated sholder. Yasuhiro has been fantastic this season, so here's hoping they can pop it back in without too much pain, and we see him back soon.

Another late, late winner. Brilliant scenes behind the home goal when Genki popped up to nod it home like Okazaki at his best. All credit to Radoncic whose control and quick thinking in the centre of the field set up Genki to lay it off to Murata.

Full report to come tomorrow.

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Wednesday

With apologies. What with life getting in the way, and then the announcement that the J. League was to give up being a competition worth watching, I never got around to writing about this fantastic victory.  Nagoya always give us a fiery, derby-like game, and Saturday was no exception. Great result from our boys.

Read all about it on the boss's website, here.

Videos

Highlights.

New 2 Stage and Post Season Championship System for the J. League?

BARRY WRITES... 

New 2 Stage and Post Season Championship System for the J. League? That title rolls off the tongue with all the fluidity and grace of the recently announced plans for J1 2015.

A few months ago news was leaked that the league was hoping to return to a two stage system from next year. This was immediately and comprehensively denounced by the large majority of J. League supporters. Want an idea of the extent of feeling? Here's what Urawa fans threw together in protest. Most pointed is the fact there are countless individual banners, not merely a collective effort.

Borrowed from this blog

This was a scene repeated all over the country. The people had spoken. Japanese fans simply do not want stages and their associated weakness at deciding the year's best team. The suits slunk off defeated, but not without a parting swipe that they'd still be changing things eventually.

I went into full details of the gaping holes in the old double stage system back in April, but if you think those were grounds for objection, just you wait until you see what lunacy the J. League has dreamt up for 2015.

Use the Term System Loosely

OK, brace yourself. This is not a joke. This really is how J1 is going to be contested in two years time. 

There will be two stages of 17 games. Home and away games will be distributed over those stages. Never mind that the potential fixture inequalities create a mess straight off the bat. Just ignore that.

When both stages have been completed the year will enter the post season tournament phase.

The winner of Stage 1 will play the runners up of Stage 2. One leg? Two? Nobody knows yet.

The winner of Stage 2 will play the runners up of Stage 1. Clear? OK.

The winner of these games then play each other. One leg? Two? Again, who the hell knows. 
And the winner of this is the champion? God no. Of course not.

The winner of the above game will play the team with the greatest number of points won over the two stages. 
The winner of that will be the champions. 

Seriously. I must state again that I am not joking. This is actually what has been reported today. Confusing? Unfair? Needlessly convoluted? Never mind all that, think of the sponsorship money to be had in all those extra games (anything up to eight). That really is what it comes down to. It's not in the interests of clubs or players, and certainly not supporters.

Where to Start?

Scenario 1)

One team wins both stages. The same team finishes second both stages. 

Who plays who in the play offs? We'll be short by three competitors. 

Two teams denied 1st or 2nd place finishes, and the team with the highest number of total  points will be the 1st placed team. 

So where do we go to make up the numbers? 3rd place? 4th place? 

Where are the double stage winners (inevitably the highest point earners) dropped into the post season tournament?

Ultimately you could see the grand final between the highest total points winners and a team who finished 3rd or 4th in one stage. They may have finished bottom in the other stage, but never mind that, now they're playing for the championship.

Let Your Voice be Heard

It's an insult to the integrity of Japanese football. It's spitting in the face of fans who have made it abundantly clear this is the opposite of what they want. It's gimmicky, it's cynical and it's cheap. It's vast wads of sponsorship cash and it's jobs for the suits. 

J. League fans have perhaps come of age since the J1 abandoned two stages in 2005. They know what they want, and they're deadly serious. A fair league with no tacky add-ons. I agree 100%, and if I'm honest, I don't think I'd spend money watching football reduced to a circus.

TV companies are ordered not to broadcast banners like those above, but supporters won't be silenced. This game belongs to supporters first and foremost. If you're in Japan and feel the same way as most, make a banner to take to your next home game. If you're not J. Side, Tweet like mad using the hashtag below. It means, literally, Opposition to 2 Stage System.

The league has displayed contempt for fans thus far, and appear intent on pushing their plans through regardless of the opposition, so don't make it easy for them.

#2ステージ制反対

S-Pulse 2-0 Fujieda MYFC (Emp Cup 2nd Round)

BARRY WRITES...

S-Pulse 2-0 Fujieda MYFC
Omae 72
Radončić 74

Att 5215
Nihondaira Stadium, KO 3pm
Shizuoka city, Shizuoka prefecture

Line Up

GK Takahara

DF Hiraoka
DF Jong-a-Pin
DF Muramatsu

MF Ishige
MF Kawaii
MF Honda
MF Sugiyama

FW Takagi
FW Omae
FW Radončić

Subs Used

Murata on for Sugiyama (58)
Takeuchi on for Radončić (78)
Hattanda on for Takagi (92)

Report

S-Pulse strolled past Shizuoka newcomers Fujieda MYFC yesterday with goals from Genki and Radončić. Giant killings happen of course, but they shouldn't. Yesterday one didn't. Our 3rd round opponents shouldn't pose too much of an obstacle, either. We'll play the winner of Yokohama FC (15th in J2) and Zweigen Kanazawa (4th in JFL) going on to meet Frontale (so long as they beat their own lower division opponents) in the 4th round.

Anyway, getting ahead of ourselves a little here. For now, our 3rd round game is home at Nihondaira on a date the JFL are yet to announce.

Videos

Both goals from a personal uploader.